Snow behaviour under compaction for the production of ice

In a previous study, we investigated the effect of additions of 10, 15, and 20% water (on a weight basis) to snow at an initial temperature of −11°C on the energy required for compaction. Water-addition of 10% significantly reduced the amount of energy required to compact snow. Here, we describe the compressive characteristics of snow at water-addition levels of 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12% and initial snow temperature of −5, −8, −11, and −18°c. Samples were compacted at a constant compression rate of 102 mm-min−1 to a maximum stress of 1.2 MPa. Water-addition significantly reduced the total energy required for compaction. At the colder temperatures of −18 and −11°C, the 12% water-addition level resulted in the least amount of total stress build-up during compression. At initial snow temperatures of −8 and −5°C, the least amount of stress build-up was observed at water-addition levels of 6 and 9%, respectively. All water-addition levels led to significant reductions of work done per unit density increase per unit mass of wet snow. The amount of water-addition, required for reducing the rate of stressbuild-up during compression, increases with decreasing snow temperature.